Excerpts from the St Eloi Centennial 1889-1989 Book, Lyon Co., MN Family Bios ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Peggy Fellows Submitted: August 2005 ========================================================================= ST ELOI CATHOLIC PARISH, GHENT, MINNESOTA The following are excerpts from the St Eloi Centennial 1889-1989 Book - Most of the articles also have photos of the family. BERNARD H. BOT AND MARY ALPHONSINE DESUTTER (Photo in book) Bernard was born at Uithuizen, Holland in 1864 to William H. Bot and Debora Schrueder. Mary was born at St. Lawrence, Belgium in 1866. Bernard was nineteen years of age when he came to Lyon County in 1884. He worked as a hired hand for two years until his parents came to America. Then he worked on his father's farm one and one half miles east of Ghent for several years. Later with his brother, Hero, the purchased a farm three and a half miles south of Ghent in Section thirty three. They farmed together two years and then Bernard bought the land from his brothers. He also bought one hundred sixty acres in Section twenty eight Grandview Township. The Bots were parents to eight children, four dying in infancy. The other four are: Mary (Mrs. Charles Buysee) deceased, Leona (mrs. Theodore VanderLaan) deceased, Theresa (Sister Theresa ) of St. Paul, MN and Charles W. who still lives on the home place. Bernard died on February 2, 1918 and his wife died on December 30, 1905. HENRY JOSEPH BOT AND DEBORA SCHREUDER Henry J. Bot was born to William H. Bot and Debora Schreuder in Uithuizen, Province of Groningen, Holland October 14, 1876 and accompanied his parents, brothers and sisters to America in 1886. Until twenty-five years of age, he resided with his parents on the 420-acre farm which his father purchased in Grandview Township. William knew very little about agriculture since he was a wholesale merchant in Europe, and Henry and his brothers didn't go along with his methods of farming. His wife, Debora, who used to entertain the merchants' wives while their husbands listened to the sales pitch of her husband in their store, also had many adjustments to make in America. In Holland, she enjoyed the help of "kinder" and house maids, and the local baker delivered bread to her home daily. There were no such luxuries for Debora here. She didn't have to bother much with sewing, however, because Jake Scholtens, a tailor, came to America with the Bots. He fashioned overcoats for the boys so large that they wore them well into manhood. Henry was a big help to his parents during these trying years he enjoyed hunting, and his keen marksmanship guaranteed them plenty of game to eat. His skill with a gun proved especially helpful their first year; because after his parents purchased the farm, they had only thirty- eight cents to last them the winter. (More in the book - plus photos) HERO W. BOT AND ANNA PAAGMAN Hero W. Bot was born in Uithuizen, Province of Groningen, Holland in the year 1861. In 1884, Hero and brother Bernard, came to America to look over and appraise the farm land in Lyon County with the prospect that the rest of the family might come here to live. After a year or so of working on a farm in Grandview Township as hired hands, they returned to Holland. They, their parents, and the rest of the children then came to America in 1886, settling on a farm in Grandview Township, east of what is now the village of Ghent. Later Hero and Bernard farmed for a few years on a farm of their own until Hero decided to retire and move to Ghent. In the year 1907, Hero bot went to Holland married Anna Paagman where they honeymooned in Germany, Switzerland, England, Italy and Belgium before Hero brought his new bride to Minnesota. No children were born to this couple, but their nieces and nephews were as dear to them as if they were their very own. Few people knew that Hero was National Chess Champion of Holland because his father forbade him to pursue this talent in America; so he never spoke of his chess achievements to his acquaintances. (More included in the article, plus photo) JOHN H. BOT John H. Bot, son of William H. and Debora(Schreuder) Bot was born in Holland September 13, 1879 and came to America with his parents, five brothers, and five sisters in the year 1886 at four years of age. Mr. Bot grew up on the farm in Grandview Township and was educated in the country school. After his father's death in april, 1906, John and his brother, William, rented the home place for a couple of years; he then took full charge and later bought part of the improved farm. Besides managing a successful farm, Mr. Bot raised cattle and hogs for marker. He was a progressive young farmer and well-known through-out the neighboring country. He was a popular figure in the village of Ghent, an eligible bachelor, responsible, capable and active. Mr. Bot served as Clerk of the Township Board for 35 yeas and as Clerk of School District No. 31 for several years. He was also recorder for the Town Board for a number of years and always did his utmost for the betterment of the Village of Ghent. He assisted in the bank at Ghent in the bank's early years. Besides the various offices mentioned, John was an able manager of the Ghent Cooperative Creamery, an active member of the Catholic Church, and held membership in the Catholic Order of Foresters Lodge. Mr. Bot suffered several financial depressions, but in the long run, he always came out on top and good-naturedly too. Society's interests were his, and he maintained a genuine concern for the welfare of his family, his nieces and nephews. On the morning of his death, which came so suddenly, he had just returned from a business trip to the Court House in Marshall. Then, too, he stopped to visit friends--never too busy for a cheery word or a helping hand. He died at his home July 26, 1940. REINIER BOT AND JULIA MAERTENS Reinier J. Bot was the son of William H. and Debora (Schreuder) Bot and was born on October 23, 1866 at Uithuizen, Holland. (More included in the article) On November 20, 1896, he was united in marriage to Julia Maertens at St. Eloi Catholic Church at Ghent. Julia's parents, Henry Maertens and Ann DeReewve, were some of the earliest pioneers in this area and came to this country from Varsenaere, Belgium in 1883 in order to find better living conditions in the future for their family of eight. They settled on a farm northwest of Ghent. (more included in article & photo) WILLIAM H. BOT AND DEBORA SCHREUDER William H. Bot Sr. was born March 12, 1836, in Warfhuizen, Provence of Groningen, Holland. His marriage to Debora Schreuder took place November 25, 1859. Debora was born at Leermens, Holland in October of 1839. While in Holland, Mr. Bot was a wholesale merchant of dry goods and wearing apparel. He was active in civic affairs and architect of the Catholic Church in Luppersum. (More included in article and photo) WILLIAM H BOT (II) AND MARY STASSEN William was the son of William H Bot and Deborah Schrueder. He was born in Holland, Province of Groningen, Town of Uithuizen December 23, 1880. He accompanied his parents to America in 1886. (more in article) On November 11, 1908, he was united in marriage to Mary Marguerite Stassen (born May 27, 1887 in Belgium) daughter of Jacob Stassen II and Elizabeth Catherine Kooken. Mary Stassen had come to America with er parents who had settled in Grandview Township. (Children and more are included in the article) JOHN BREEN AND MARGARET MCMAHAN John Breen, son of Maurice and Ellen Courtney Breen, was born in Kerry, Ireland, October 7, 1849. His parents died while he was a boy and John came to america at age 16. He landed in Boston and used the opportunity to learn the leather finishing trade (more included in article and photo) ALPHONSE DECOCK AND CELESTA VANHECKE His parents, Bernard DeCock and Caroline Van Hecke, were natives of Belgium. Alphonse was born in Lauriens, Belgium August 8, 1871. On February 27, 1902, he married Celesta Van Hecke in Belgium and came to America the same year. They arrived at Lindon, Wisconsin and farmed there for two years. They then moved to Ghent where he worked in the Ghent Elevator for a number of years and also worked in the Ghent area helping farmers. (children and more with photos in article) AUGUST DECOCK SR. AND ELLEN MOORSE August, the third son of Leo DeCock and Johanna DeRycke was born at Poperinghe, Belgium and came to America with his parents in 1880. He married Ellen Moorse in 1892 and purchased 400 acres of land in Grandview Township 2 ˝ miles northwest of Ghent. In March of 1917, the couple………..set out for Shawmut, Montana where they bought a sheep, cattle, and wheat. In 1929 the family moved to Minneota (MN); Alphonse died there July 17, 1947. His wife, Celeste, died May 3, 1962. LEO DECOCK AND JOHANNA DERYCKE Leo was born in 1829 and died in 1890. Leo came from Ruiselade, Belgium. He was married to Johanna DeRycke of Poperinghe, a small town in West Flanders, Belgium. They came to America in 1881. (more included in article) AUGUST DE MARTELAERE AND MELANIE VAN DAMME August was born in Belgium August 1, 1881; Melanie was born in Belgium Dec. 25, 1883. August and Melanie were married in Belgium. August came to America a couple of years before his wife. He came to join his brother Camiel and got a job in Rock Island, Illinois and then sent for his wife to come to the U.S. Soon Camiel was living on a farm near Minneota. August and his family moved to Minneota and worked for Jack Finnegan on his farm one mile south of Minneota. The De Martelaere's had four children, Marcel born in Belgium, married Paula Van Landeghem. Augusta was born in Belgium and died at age 6 in Rock Island, Ill. Albert married Evelyn Remerowski. Albert died Nov. 25, 1980. Annie married Virgil Van Dale in Ghent. FRANCIS GITS AND LOUISE CORNETTE Francis was born in Cortemork, Belgium, October 6, 1838 the son of Louis and Natalie Gits. Having completed his schooling at the age of sixteen, he learned the blacksmith's trade from his father. He continued this same trade after coming to America and locating in Ghent, Minnesota in the summer of 1883. Louise was a native of Belgium, born June 22, 1836. Francis and Louise were married January 15, 1863. Eight children were born to this union. (more included in article) JOHN GUERTS AND MARY SINAVE Mary Sinave married John Guerts in the winter of 1928 or 1929. There were five children born to this family: Margaret Guerts Kinny lives in Iowa….. Mary Sinave Guerts died when the fifth child was born in 1934. It was then, Aunt Irma Vandendries took charge of these five children and lived with them through their teen years. John, on a trip to Europe and Belgium, remarried and returned to St. Eloi parish and farmed south of Ghent. John and his wife had one daughter, Thersa, and they reside in Minneota . Theresa is married and lives in Marshall, Minnesota. CYRIEL HAMERLINCK AND EMMA GEERAERT Cyriel and Emma Hamerlinck and their daughter, Elizabeth, arrived in New York March 13, 1901 from St. Marquiet, Belgium, and then went directly to Ghent, Minnesota. One son, Charles, was born August 20, 1901 in Ghent. The family moved to Green Valley in 1902 where Henry was born Feb. 3rd, 1904. In 1905 the family moved to Minneota where they farmed until their retirement. THEOPHIL HAMERLINCK AND LOUISE GEERAERT Theophil and Louise Hamerlinck and their three daughters, Clara, Elizabeth and Mary, came from Watervliet, Belgium to Ghent in 1903. They heard about Ghent through Cyriel Hamerlinck.(more in article) OMER KESTELOOT AND TERESA BOERBOOM Omer Kesteloot was born at Koolschamp, Belgium in the year of 1887. In the year 1906, when he was nineteen years old, he and Richard De Vos came to the United States. They worked in Detroit, Michigan a while before coming to Ghent. (more included - plus family members and photo's) HECTOR THEUNINCK AND MARIE MAERTENS Hector was born in Weken, Belgium January 14, 1884 and came to Moline, Illinois in 1910. Marie Maertens was born in Poelhappelle, Belgium October 3, 1885 and came to Moline, Illinois in 1912. Hector and Marie were married July 8, 1913. After their marriage they settled in Illinois for four years. In 1917, they came to Minnesota, lived in Ghent and worked as a farm hand until 1919, when they started farming. JOHN THOLEN AND GERTRUDE DIRCKS John Tholen born in Holland January 24, 1856, the son of John. He attended school in Holland until 19 years of age. He worked at home for his father until coming to America in 1880. He located in Henry County, Illinois where he farmed for 3 years. John Tholen and Gertrude Dircks were married February 6, 1883 in Carver County, Minnesota. Gertrude wa a native of Holland. In the summer of 1884, John and Gertrude came to Lyon County and settled on the S.E. quarter of Section 28 Westerheim Township. On February 21, 1889 John married MATHILDA WAMBEKE at Ghent. She was a native of Belgium the daughter of Ferdinand and Rossalie Wambeke. The Wambeke's came to Lyon County in 1888.……. JOHANNES TILLEMANS AND KATHERINE SCHERES Johannes was born and raised in Holland. He married Katherine who was also a native of Holland. This union was bless with 5 children…… Johannes then married CHRISTINE SCHERES (his sister-in-law) in Holland. Johannes and Christine came to America with 5 children and lived on a farm south of Minneota….. JULES VANDERMEERSCH AND ERMA DEMEERSSEMAN Erma Demeersseman was born at Poelkapelle, Belgium January 18, 1889 and died march 31, 1966 at Ghent, Minnesota. Jules Vandermeersch was born in Sint-Jan, Belgium, May 12, 1881 and died at Ghent April 25, 1962. Jules came to America in 1912 at the age of 24. His sister Emma and a brother, Henry, were already here; at that time they lived in the little house on the corner of Baldwin and Burlingame streets in Ghent. Jules and henry then left Ghent to go to North Dakota and lived on a farm there close to other Belgian friends. Erma and Jules stayed in Europe for six years; but when WWI broke out, Erma had to flee into France. After the war was over, Jules sent for her. Upon her arrival from Europe, Erma went to the Ernest Loyson farm in North Dakota. She remained there until her marriage to Jules Vandermeersch July 2, 1919 at Montpelier, North Dakota. …………In 1923 they all came back to Ghent by train to live on a farm south of Ghent owned by Bernard Claeys. …….In Europe Jules' parents were blacksmiths at Iepers, Belgium. They made coffins and buried the dead…………. ALPHONSE VAN DORPE AND LOUISE VERKRUISE Alphonse VanDorpe was born at St. Laurens, Belgium in 1864. He married Louise Verkruise who was born in 1865, at St. Kruis, Holland. They arrived in New york September 1901.……….. ========================================================================= Copyright Peggy Fellows 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm =========================================================================